Ikea has invested an extra £4m in its workforce over the financial year due to its new intake of employees, and the company's commitment to paying the rate of pay set by the Living Wage Foundation.

What Ikea said

Gillian Drakeford, Ikea UK country retail manager, said: "We have ambitious expansion plans for the UK and are committed to making Ikea more accessible to many people. As well as opening new stores, we are also enhancing existing stores.

"Half way through the year we refurbished all living room departments in preparation for this year's "Make Room for Life" campaign and we are already seeing a great response to this."